The National Health Data Dictionary provides national standards for the broader health sector. This update reflects changes to data standards between 1 July 2010 and 30 April 2012. During this time 10 data set specifications, 23 data element clusters, 177 data elements, one classification and 20 glossary items have been added. Twelve national minimum data sets, two data set specifications, 96 data elements, five classifications and three glossary items have been superseded, and three national standards have been retired since version 15 of the NHDD was published.

Summary of updates to National Health Data Dictionary (NHDD) since version 15

The purpose of this document is to inform users of updates to the National Health Data Dictionary (NHDD) version 16 published August 2012. This update reflects changes to the national health data standards between 1 July 2010 and 30 April 2012. During this time ten data set specifications, twenty three data element clusters, a hundred and seventy seven data elements, one classification and twenty glossary items have been added. Other changes include the revision of twelve national minimum datasets, two data set specification, eighty three data elements, five classifications and three glossary items. As a result of these revisions, tweleve national minimum data sets, two data set specifications, ninety six data elements, five classifications and three glossary items have been superseded. Three national standards have been retired since version 15 of the NHDD was published.

These new standards have been agreed to and endorsed by the National Health Information Standards and Statistics Committee (NHISSC).